A Study Of Two Generations Of Immigrants In The Namesake From The Perspective Of Trauma Theory

Jhumpa Lahiri is a contemporary writer,her first novel The Namesake describes the plight of Indian immigrants in the United States.This novel tells the story of an Indian immigrant family’s dilemma between American and Indian cultures and the intergenerational transmission of trauma.With its authenticity and uniqueness,The Namesake occupies a certain place in the history of American literature.Based on intergenerational trauma theory,trauma and recovery theory,this thesis studies the individual trauma and collective trauma that two generations of Indian immigrants experienced in the America,and the intergenerational transmission of trauma between the two generations in The Namesake.First of all,the thesis explores the causes and symptoms of the trauma that the first-generation immigrants experienced.Secondly,it discusses the impact of the trauma of the first-generation on the second-generation,and the trauma that the second-generation suffered.Thirdly,the thesis analyzes the different ways of recovery of these two generations in the novel.Finally,it reveals the intergenerational transmission mode of trauma presented in the novel,pointing out that the intergenerational transmission of trauma embodies three patterns: repetition of traumatic discourse,recurrence of traumatic behavior,and reenactment of traumatic scene.It points out that these two generations of Indian immigrants of the Gangulis family in The Namesake both suffer from different traumas directly or indirectly.The intergenerational transmission of trauma shows that trauma has an impact on the victims and the trauma could affect other people.Although everyone tries to recover from great trauma in several ways,the victims could never be completely recovered.It can be seen that The Namesake is not only a simple immigrant novel,but also a novel with the educational function of literature.Through this novel,Jhumpa Lahiri emphasizes the intergenerational transmission of family trauma,and the harm to individuals,families and society caused by trauma as well,aiming to call on people to pay attention to family trauma and the coping measures to get out of the trauma.